The outgoing Bloomberg Administration and the Office of Long Term Planning and Sustainability announced last week that greenhouse gas emissions have dropped by 19 percent since 2005 throughout the city; nearly two-thirds the way from reaching the 30 percent in reductions by 2030, a goal set forth in PlaNYC, a far-reaching sustainability blueprint for the city.

The report titled, “The Inventory of New York City Greenhouse Gas Emissions,” estimates that the steps taken by the city over the last several years in reducing emissions from municipal buildings and through city operations could save taxpayers nearly $54.6 million every year by 2017.

“Cities can be the difference-makers in combating climate change,” former Mayor Michael Bloomberg said. “The reports we are releasing today make clear that even deeper reductions are possible, and that means cleaner air and a city that is climate ready for 8.4 million New Yorkers.”

It was reported in the study that New Yorkers have become more efficient at heating their buildings with both cleaner fuels and electricity since 2005, while the city has additionally invested in greener city vehicles and become more efficient in utilizing landfills and wastewater treatment plants.

“The Office of Long Term Planning and Sustainability has set the standard for data-based policy making that has produced unprecedented results,” said Deputy Mayor Cas Holloway. “Whether it’s a 19 percent reduction in GHG emissions, the cleanest air in 50 years, or a road-map for even deeper emissions reductions, the PlaNYC approach has put New York City on the path to a sustainable future.”

The Mayor’s Carbon Challenge, originally targeted towards reducing emissions at municipal buildings by 30 percent, has since expanded to multi-family buildings to expand the green efforts.

Some notable programs responsible for the reductions include the nearly $50 million in financing benefits for energy efficient businesses from the recently launched New York City Energy Efficiency Corporation (NYCEE); around $100 million for energy friendly retrofits in capital projects from the Department of Citywide Administrative Services’ Accelerated Conservation and Efficiency program (ACE); and the launch of the Spectra NJ-NY Natural Gas Expansion Project, delivering gas to New Yorkers on October 21.

“Reducing building emissions through energy efficiency is a critical wedge in the global battle against climate change. Yet there is a void of easily-accessible financing for energy efficiency,” said Susan Leeds of NYCEEC. “The NYCEE is here to fill that void and this $50 million package of financial products is a major step to getting new projects off the ground.”